Chamber
Plenary, 14 Jan 2004
14 Jan 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Sexual Health and <br />Relationship Strategy
I am pleased to take part in this discursive debate. The first of the issues that I want to touch on is probably the most obvious—the reduction in the number of unintended pregnancies. I say that that is the most obvious because young Scottish women have such a bad record in that respect in comparison with the rest of Europe.
The summary document makes the interesting comment that
"teenage pregnancy is associated with low aspirations, few perceived opportunities, lack of knowledge and skills, and mixed messages that suggest sex is the norm".
I completely endorse that view. How often have we seen, as we go around the supermarket, a young girl hardly into her youth pushing a baby around in a buggy with her pal beside her? There is sometimes a young man in tow, but often there is not. We know when we see her that she is in a trap of poverty and hard work. She may have no one to relieve her of the hard work of looking after the child. Although it might have seemed to her at the time that being a mother gave her some kind of status and although she might have enjoyed playing mummy for a bit—buying baby clothes and doing things like that—the situation soon became a harsh reality for her.
That situation has much to do with low aspirations and social background. It is about people not being there to help at the right time, whether that is at school, in church or in the wider community. I am thinking even of young women's parents. The problem is huge and cuts across all portfolios.
The document refers to media and mass communications. It says:
"Sexual imagery pervades many aspects of modern society and is often used to sell products".
How true that is. It continues:
"The portrayal of sex and relationships in the media sometimes reinforces stereotypes and ignores risks associated with sexual behaviour."
I agree with that, too. However, the problem for the Parliament is that so much of that area is reserved.
I am neither a prurient person nor am I a censor, but I believe that images are shown on "Neighbours" and "EastEnders" in order to titillate and to create sexual tension. That is also the case with the voyeurism of the so-called reality programmes, such as "Big Brother". All those programmes shamelessly use sex simply to increase viewing figures. Many of them are shown at times when young people and children are watching television.
The summary document makes the interesting comment that
"teenage pregnancy is associated with low aspirations, few perceived opportunities, lack of knowledge and skills, and mixed messages that suggest sex is the norm".
I completely endorse that view. How often have we seen, as we go around the supermarket, a young girl hardly into her youth pushing a baby around in a buggy with her pal beside her? There is sometimes a young man in tow, but often there is not. We know when we see her that she is in a trap of poverty and hard work. She may have no one to relieve her of the hard work of looking after the child. Although it might have seemed to her at the time that being a mother gave her some kind of status and although she might have enjoyed playing mummy for a bit—buying baby clothes and doing things like that—the situation soon became a harsh reality for her.
That situation has much to do with low aspirations and social background. It is about people not being there to help at the right time, whether that is at school, in church or in the wider community. I am thinking even of young women's parents. The problem is huge and cuts across all portfolios.
The document refers to media and mass communications. It says:
"Sexual imagery pervades many aspects of modern society and is often used to sell products".
How true that is. It continues:
"The portrayal of sex and relationships in the media sometimes reinforces stereotypes and ignores risks associated with sexual behaviour."
I agree with that, too. However, the problem for the Parliament is that so much of that area is reserved.
I am neither a prurient person nor am I a censor, but I believe that images are shown on "Neighbours" and "EastEnders" in order to titillate and to create sexual tension. That is also the case with the voyeurism of the so-called reality programmes, such as "Big Brother". All those programmes shamelessly use sex simply to increase viewing figures. Many of them are shown at times when young people and children are watching television.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on the subject of developing a sexual health and relationship strategy for Scotland.
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I welcome this debate and the opportunity that it provides for members to contribute to the development of a national sexual health and relationship strategy...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the healthy respect project, part of which is in my constituency. Will the minister give an undertaking that funding will be available long enough ...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
First, funding is available for the continuation of healthy respect. Secondly, it is being evaluated. That is important and was always part of the idea of th...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I begin by paying tribute to the expert group's work in producing the report. The incidence of sexually transmitted infections continues to increase in Scotl...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I do not know whether Shona Robison was listening to my speech, but I made it absolutely clear—I did this intentionally in view of the allegations that are b...
Shona Robison:
SNP
I will come on to say a little bit more about that. The minister has tried to distance himself from the expert group, because he obviously wants to decide wh...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I join the minister in thanking the expert group for the work that it has done, albeit under the direction of the minister. I agree with one thing that the m...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member acknowledge that we must trust the teachers who work with youngsters? The idea that only parents can work with their children is nonsense. We...
Mr Davidson:
Con
Let me reassure the member that I said that parents should be able to approve the materials that are used in schools and the type of education that is delive...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
This is an unusual debate, in that, instead of addressing a specific motion that requires a decision, we are straightforwardly examining the issues, as we do...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
I, too, generally welcome the strategy and the debate. I ask members to welcome to the gallery some of the members of the cross-party group in the Scottish P...
Mr Davidson:
Con
I probably did not express myself very clearly. What I am saying is that parental responsibility means parents being responsible for educating children for w...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
It was certainly implied that parents should be allowed to veto resources. At heart, we must endorse the sex-positive approach. Sadly, however, we live in a ...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
I am not sure how to follow Green theories on lust, but I will try my best.It may be an unfortunate coincidence that Glasgow's clinic for the treatment of se...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I am pleased to take part in this discursive debate. The first of the issues that I want to touch on is probably the most obvious—the reduction in the number...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
Does the member agree that there is a danger of hypocrisy on this issue? Perhaps some of the most titillating images and experiences are to be found in the m...
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I share that view. In programmes such as "Top of the Pops", some of the camera angles leave little to the imagination. However, "Top of the Pops" is on at 7 ...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
Does the member accept that it would be extraordinarily difficult for the expert panel to include a representative who could reflect the broad range of paren...
Christine Grahame:
SNP
With regard to practicalities, perhaps a questionnaire could have been sent to parents who wished to take part, to elicit data on their views without—
Patrick Harvie:
Green
It is an expert panel.
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I know that it is an expert panel. However, why are parents not considered to be experts in their own way? There is a range of opinion among experts in any f...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am delighted to speak in the debate and to be able to raise an issue about which I take every opportunity to speak—low fertility rates in Scotland. The reg...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome today's debate and the publication of the draft sexual health strategy, which is an important milestone. Like other members, I welcome the strategy...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
It is a pleasure to follow Susan Deacon, who has been a consistent and passionate advocate on the issue and who does credit to the debate.I will focus my rem...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
I welcome the speeches that have been made, with the exception of one or two. David Davidson is no longer in the chamber, but I will come back to him later.I...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
Women of my age or my generation will recall the sexual advice that they received when they reached a particular age. We got a pack that contained Dr White's...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
I welcome the tone of Cathy Peattie's speech. I cannot help recalling a time some years ago when I visited the home of the late Nicholas Fairbairn and saw wh...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
The proposal to the Scottish Executive states:"NHS Boards have a duty to ensure that all young people have easy, open and confidential access to holistic hea...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Con
I accept the principle that there should be easy, open and effective access to health services. This afternoon, however, I am dealing with education, a subje...